We all love that brilliant shine of a new car in the dealer’s showroom or at an auto show. There are hundreds of car care products and treatments available. The question is what works best and how do you do it?
First, you must properly clean and wash your car. Polishing and waxing a unclean car is sure to leave hairline scratches from dirt and debris on the car. Proper car washing and cleaning should be a main staple of any car care regimen or treatment. It is a proven fact that cars that receive routine car washes will last longer (as evidenced in a recent Popular Mechanics magazine). To properly wash your car, first rinse it off. Get the whole car wet and try to spray off any loose dirt and debris. Then use specific car wash soap (regular household items and chemicals are usually too harsh and can strip the wax or sealant right off) and a soft sponge or towel. Wash one panel or area at a time and rinse when done so the suds and soap won’t dry on the paint. When done dry off the car with clean terry towels or microfiber towels (a chamois works great also).
Gas prices are at an all time high and there is no indication that they will be coming down any time soon. What if we could show you how to easily save 20% or more on gas? Here are some great tips that are guaranteed to save you big at the pump.
Start keeping track of your gas mileage so you can see how much you are paying and what you are or will be saving. Many cars will automatically tell you this in the digital display. If yours does not, the easiest way is to write down the amount of gas you put in at your next fill up. Then erase the odometer (press the single long button on your odometer display). When you get near empty, divide the miles driven by gallons used. This will give you your miles per gallon. This is good to know as it can tell you when something is wrong with your car. It will also show a noticeable improvement when you incorporate some of the tips below.
Gas prices are at an all time high and there is no indication that they will be coming down any time soon. What if we could show you how to easily save 20% or more on gas? Here are some great tips that are guaranteed to save you big at the pump.
Start keeping track of your gas mileage so you can see how much you are paying and what you are or will be saving. Many cars will automatically tell you this in the digital display. If yours does not, the easiest way is to write down the amount of gas you put in at your next fill up. Then erase the odometer (press the single long button on your odometer display). When you get near empty, divide the miles driven by gallons used. This will give you your miles per gallon. This is good to know as it can tell you when something is wrong with your car. It will also show a noticeable improvement when you incorporate some of the tips below.
We all have received them on our cars – rock chips, door dings, bumper scrapes, etc… They can come from a rock thrown up from a truck on the highway, or its as easy as a parking lot ding from someone in a hurry or even an errant grocery cart. Most of these are unavoidable. They can happen even if you park far away from stores and regardless of the measures you take to protect your car. Not only do they detract from your cars beauty, but they can also make your car susceptible to rust and the environment. Here’s how to fix these paint chips, nicks and deep scratches and protect your car from rust.
Its not worth going to a auto paint and body store for chips and scratches. They will charge 10 times more for repairs you can easily do yourself. The first step is to locate the chips and scratches and see how deep they are. If they don’t go all the way through the paint you can buff them out. Using a cloth terry towel apply a small amount of scratch remover or cleaner wax. Rub in a circular motion over the chip or scratch and buff when dry. If this removes the chip or scratch after a couple of applications, great, then just follow with a good wax or polish. If you see white primer or metal in the nick or scratch scratch remover or cleaner wax will not work well.
The average car now costs over $30,000. The average monthly car payment is now $430 and the loans are near 6 years long on average. With taxes, fees and insurance thrown in the average monthly cost of a car is similar to that of a mortgage payment. Being that we are spending this much on our cars we need to take a renewed look at car care and treatments that will increase the longevity of these major investments. Sadly, many people neglect their cars and there is little, if any, car care done. Rust can happen anywhere in America (it isn’t just a problem for northerners). It is also easy to prevent with a little proper car care.
Everyone hates rust and complains about it, but when you look at their cars, little if anything is ever done to stop or prevent it. As evidenced in clinical studies and research by the big 3 auto manufacturers, its not a question of if. It’s a question of when. Whether it is salt and snow, salty ocean air, industrial fallout and acid rain, rock chips, road debris, etc… There are many different elements of nature that exist everywhere and will do harm and weaken your car’s finish and allow rust to start. The metal on your car is mostly protected by a very thin coating of paint and primer. Rust is caused by a loss in electrons of the metal and can occur as soon as the thin paint coating is jeopardized.